Joe Biden served as the 46th President of the United States from January 20, 2021 to January 20, 2025. A Democrat, his administration prioritized COVID-19 recovery, economic relief, infrastructure investment, and climate policy with Kamala Harris as vice president.
Biden's presidency focused on managing the COVID-19 pandemic's aftermath and stabilizing the economy through the American Rescue Plan, while passing major legislation such as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act to invest in infrastructure, clean energy, and health care.
On foreign policy he oversaw the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan and led sustained U.S. support for Ukraine after Russia's 2022 invasion; his tenure emphasized restoring alliances, addressing global challenges, and shaping the federal judiciary with key appointments.
Passed the American Rescue Plan for COVID-19 relief (2021); Enacted the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (2021); Signed the Inflation Reduction Act advancing climate and health policy (2022); Oversaw the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan (2021); Led sustained U.S. support for Ukraine after Russia's 2022 invasion; Appointed Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court
Key highlights and dated events associated with this presidency.
Showing 12 of 255 entries.
President Biden signed the PACT Act, expanding Department of Veterans Affairs health care and benefits eligibility for veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxic substances.
President Biden signed the CHIPS and Science Act, authorizing roughly $52 billion in subsidies and incentives to boost domestic semiconductor manufacturing and related research.
The Department of Justice executed a search warrant at Mar-a-Lago, seizing boxes and classified documents from former President Donald Trump's Florida residence as part of an investigation into the handling of presidential records and classified material.
The Department of Health and Human Services declared the mpox outbreak a public health emergency, prompting a coordinated federal response led by HHS and CDC.
After House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, China launched large-scale military exercises and missile tests around the island, and the Biden administration publicly urged de‑escalation and reaffirmed U.S. support for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
On August 1, 2022, U.S. forces carried out a CIA drone strike in Kabul that killed Ayman al‑Zawahiri, the long‑time leader of al‑Qaeda.
The U.S. House of Representatives approved the CHIPS and Science Act, clearing a key legislative step to provide federal incentives and funding to boost domestic semiconductor manufacturing.
The U.S. House of Representatives approved the Respect for Marriage Act to ensure federal recognition of same-sex and interracial marriages.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on July 13 that the Consumer Price Index for June 2022 rose 9.1% compared with a year earlier, the highest annual increase in decades.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on July 8 that U.S. nonfarm payrolls increased by 372,000 in June 2022 and the unemployment rate fell to 3.6 percent.
President Biden signed an executive order directing federal agencies to use their authorities to protect access to reproductive health care—including contraception and related services—and to safeguard patient privacy after the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision.
Following the shooting of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Nara, the White House issued a statement condemning the attack and offered condolences to Abe’s family and the people of Japan.